Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) welcomes individuals who can contribute their expertise. The application process is quite extensive but it is designed to ensure that we get the right people into the right committees. We want you to be successful and we work hard to make sure that happens. The skills and background required will vary depending on your interests, so the best way to find out if the SCC Member Program is right for you is to contact us.
The Participate in Standards Development section of this web site (available from top menu bar) provides information on current member opportunities and how to apply.
Participating
A "participating" committee refers to a technical committee in which Canada participates actively, and in which Canada has an obligation to vote on all submitted questions.
Observing
When a committee has "observing" status, it means that Canada follows the work of the committee as an observer and cannot make any comments about the development process or vote on any of the submitted questions.
Standby
Committees that are in "standby" status have no work item in progress, nor foreseen for the future, but are required to continually review the standards for which they are responsible.
The integration of work between an SCC mirror committee and an SCC-accredited SDO committee related to standards development involving the preparation of Canadian and international standards documents and deliverables with the objective of achieving the greatest practicable degree of commonality in accordance with policies and procedures of SCC and the applicable SDO.
Note: Harmonization of SCC mirror committees with the technical committee of an SCC-accredited SDO is done in accordance with CAN-P-1005 - Operational requirements for granting and maintaining SCC/SDO harmonization.
Recruiting
Committees with "recruiting" membership status are committees for which SCC is actively trying to find suitable candidates to fill vacancies.
Open
Committees with "open" membership status are committees for which SCC is not actively seeking members. Interested parties may continue to submit applications to become involved.
Questions about employment opportunities at SCC
Although we do retain all applications received, we recommend that you apply to a specific position that is advertised that suits your qualifications.
No, all applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada (visit http://www.cic.gc.ca for more information)
- Review applications
- Compile short-list of candidates
- Phone screen interviews
- Conduct interviews
- Check references
- Offer employment
- Advise interviewed candidates not selected
Normally after a position is posted it takes up to three weeks for candidates selected for an interview to be advised. We appreciate the interest of all candidates, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Most job opportunities remain open until the position is filled; however, SCC reserves the right to remove the job posting at any time. It is recommended that you visit the site often to keep up-to-date with our job openings.
Identify which position you are applying for and provide specific examples of how your background meets the position’s education, experience and language requirements.
Please make sure to tell the HR representative of your special accommodation needs when you are contacted for an interview.
When you apply on-line for a position, you will receive an automatic confirmation. Your application will remain on file in our database and will be considered for the specific position for which you have applied. If, in the future, your profile matches the requirements of a different posting, you may be notified of the match and will be invited to apply for the position.
Questions about the accreditation of Standards Development Organizations (SDOs)
SCC has an obligation to review applications from organizations wishing to become accredited under its various programs, and to approve applications when organizations are deemed to meet program accreditation requirements. The addition of new SDOs offers more options and greater flexibility within Canada’s standardization network. The accreditation of US-based standards development organizations helps provide more standardization solutions to better serve stakeholders such as Canadian government, industry and consumers. This further protects the health and safety of Canadians while enhancing Canada’s economic competitiveness.
In a number of industry sectors, Canadian experts already participate directly in standards development activities of these US-based organizations, and having access to these experts for the development of National Standards of Canada is an important element of SCC accreditation. Expanding SDO accreditation also promotes harmonization of standards between Canada and the US, broadening opportunities for trade between the two countries while also presenting solutions to bilateral regulatory issues.
When the expansion of SDOs was first proposed, SCC undertook a year-long consultation process with government, industry and the four Canadian SDOs at the time (CSA Group, Bureau de normalisation du Québec, Canadian General Standards Board and Underwriters Laboratories of Canada). This was instrumental in understanding various perspectives surrounding the issues, opportunities and challenges of expanding the number of SCC-accredited SDOs.
SCC-accredited SDOs are fully expected to continue their long-standing coordination practice to avoid duplication within the Canadian standards development environment and to promote opportunities for harmonization wherever possible.
The Requirements & Guidance – Accreditation of Standards Development Organizations directly address possible duplication of standards in the system (Clause 4.3, Avoiding Duplication):
“SDOs shall make every effort to address the need of the Canadian stakeholder(s) and to not duplicate or overlap with the work of other SDOs, or relevant international or regional SDOs.”
The Duplication Resolution Mechanism was updated as part of the 2017 revision of the Requirements & Guidance – Accreditation of Standards Development Organizations with the goal of reaching a timely outcome and a decision that is responsive to Canadian stakeholder needs. These updates include a more proactive role for SCC to facilitate discussions between SDOs, the introduction of specific evaluation criteria, a clearer complaint and appeal process, and a compliance and verification process with Action Plan (issued following SCC decision on duplication).
SCC’s role is to support the standardization priorities of government and industry in Canada, and, as such, welcome comments and suggestions by stakeholders on approaches to avoid duplication of efforts.
SCC-accredited SDOs are required to ensure technical experts and affected stakeholders are involved when developing a standard, therefore, any SDO can develop standards in any area.
No it does not. The standards from these organizations do not necessarily meet the SCC Requirements & Guidance for Standards Development Organizations (SDOs). SDOs can bring their standards under SCC oversight as National Standards of Canada (NSCs) after they ensure SCC’s requirements have been met.
SCC revised the standards development program requirements to ensure greater clarity, consistency and responsiveness to the needs of Canadian stakeholders. All SCC-accredited SDOs have met the same requirements in order to receive SCC accreditation. The existing SDOs, through the Standards Development Organizations Advisory Committee (SDOAC), were consulted throughout the development of the 2017 Requirements & Guidance documents.
Key updates to the requirements include changes to the duplication resolution process and the implementation of a self-declaration framework. The improvements to the Duplication Resolution Mechanism (DRM) were made with the goal of reaching a timely outcome and a decision that is responsive to Canadian stakeholder needs. These changes include a more proactive role for SCC to facilitate discussions between SDOs, the introduction of specific evaluation criteria, a clearer complaint and appeal process, and a compliance and verification process with Action Plan (issued following SCC decision on duplication).
The self-declaration framework was introduced to allow SCC-accredited SDOs in good standing to self-declare compliance with SCC’s Requirements & Guidance documents for the publication of their standards as NSCs. The proposed self-declaration framework is based on a careful review of existing process controls, which highlighted opportunities for improvement. These improvements make the process simpler, more efficient and reduce administrative burden, while still maintaining the high-trusted value of National Standards of Canada. For a list of SDOs that have been granted self-declaration status, please visit our directory of accredited SDOs.
No, it has not. Any organization interested in SCC accreditation is assessed against the same requirements that apply to all SCC-accredited SDOs.
Questions about the SCC member program, and how to become involved in standards development work
Committee forums are intended for use by committee members only. The Standards Council of Canada has created these electronic tools as a means to coordinate committee work and other standardization activities. Access to these forums is restricted to authorized users.
A username and password are assigned to committee members upon successful completion of the application process.
For more information, visit our Stakeholder Participation page.
Volunteering helps both the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and its members. The SCC benefits because the work of members increases its capacity to accomplish its national strategic goals, objectives and plans. Members benefit because volunteering provides them with opportunities for professional development, access to committee work and expertise in standardization.
For the purposes of the Standards Council's Member Program, you are a member if you are not an employee of the Standards Council, but find yourself doing most or all of the following:
- undertaking tasks or responsibilities on behalf of the Standards Council;
- taking part in policy committees, technical committees, sub-committees or task, working or ad-hoc groups of these committees; or assessments as part of an accreditation program;
- offering your time, skills, knowledge and energy to advance the objectives of the Standards Council;
- representing Canada in regional or international standardization forums;
- working on behalf of your organization or stakeholder group in partnership with the Standards Council and the National Standards System; or
- doing all of this because of your background or expertise in a particular subject area.
A list of those technical committees of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) where Canada participates is available from the ISO website.
Canada's committee participation in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) can likewise be found online by visiting the IEC website.
SCC coordinates Canada's participation in international committee work through its Member Program.
Members are expected to demonstrate:
- active participation, commitment, willingness to undertake committee work, and prepare required reports and meeting documents;
- ability and willingness to meet and respect deadlines, and follow SCC procedures, directives and terms of reference;
- ability to travel and attend meetings nationally/internationally;
- commitment to participate in committee work electronically and in-person;
- sufficient time, resources, and financial support to actively participate on committees;
- representation of stakeholder groups and views;
- ability to work within a group environment; and
- the knowledge and technical expertise related to the committee or group.
Questions about volunteer opportunities at SCC
- Review applications
- Compile short-list of candidates
- Phone screen interviews
- Conduct interviews
- Offer volunteer position to candidate
Because there are more than one stakeholder interest categories to fill, volunteer opportunities remain open until the volunteer positions are filled. However, SCC reserves the right to remove the volunteer posting at any time. We recommend you visit the site often to keep up to date with our volunteer opportunities.
Candidates wishing to apply for a volunteer position are required to be either a Canadian citizen or resident of Canada, or working for a Canadian organization.
We recommend that you apply to a specific volunteer position that is advertised and that suits your qualifications. However, you may also apply to a specific technical committee or subcommittee that suits your qualifications.
You will receive an automatic confirmation after submitting your application online. Your application will remain on file and will be considered for the specific position for which you have applied.
Standards Council of Canada (SCC)
SCC accredits organizations in Canada as standards development organizations, conformity assessment bodies, or both. Conformity assessment is the verification that standards are being applied properly.
Consumers will hear about organizations that both develop standards for consumer products and services as well as ensure that standards related to them are followed. For example, the CSA Group is a well-known organization. It is accredited by SCC as a standards development organization and a conformity assessment body. It may therefore develop standards and verify that standards are being followed within the scope of SCC accreditation.
SCC represents Canada in key regional and international standardization forums, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). SCC offers technical support and advice to Canadian government and industry on trade issues related to standardization.
SCC recruits business experts, scientists, engineers, technologists and standardization professionals to sit on key ISO and IEC technical committees. These experts inject a Canadian perspective into international standards. Their participation is key to promoting trade, stimulating our economy, and protecting the health and safety of citizens here in Canada, and around the world.
If you are interested in getting involved in standardization join one of our committees.
The main difference between SCC and government regulators is that SCC promotes the use of voluntary standards whereas government regulators use mandatory regulations that require others to follow a set of obligations.
Voluntary standards are developed through consensus among stakeholders in a particular field. Stakeholders may include industry, government and the public.
One example of a voluntary standard is the plug. Electronics manufacturers agree to use the same kind of plug on all equipment and, as a result, plugs on electronic devices fit in all outlets.
One example of a mandatory regulation is nutrition labels on packaged food which are a mandatory requirement of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
SCC is a Crown corporation of the Government of Canada, and part of the Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) portfolio. Its mandate, as described in the Standards Council of Canada Act, is to:
- promote the participation of Canadians in voluntary standards activities;
- promote public-private sector cooperation in relation to voluntary standardization in Canada;
- coordinate and oversee the efforts of the persons and organizations involved in the national standardization network;
- foster quality, performance and technological innovation in Canadian goods and services through standards-related activities, and
- develop standards-related strategies and long-term objectives,
In order to advance the national economy, support sustainable development, benefit the health, safety and welfare of workers and the public, assist and protect consumers, facilitate domestic and international trade and further international cooperation in relation to standardization.
SCC reports to Parliament through the Minister of ISED. Oversight is provided by the Governing Council which approves the strategic direction of the organization. SCC’s Governing Council is appointed by the federal government, and reports to Parliament through the Minister of ISED. It is composed of up to 13 members who represent a broad spectrum of stakeholder interests. Members review, approve and advise SCC on its strategic direction.
However, SCC does not have regulatory authority in its mandate. Any mandatory standards or specifications and related conformity assessment requirements should be reviewed with the proper federal, provincial or territorial regulatory authority.
SCC operates numerous programs and services to promote efficient and effective standardization. SCC does not develop standards or verify the conformity of products or services to standards but rather accredits the organizations that do. SCC also approves National Standards of Canada, represents Canada in international standards forums, and serves as Canada's key source for standardization information
For more information, visit the About the Standards Council of Canada page or view the Introduction to Standards and SCC orientation module.
Standards and standardization
The designation of a standard as a NSC indicates that it is recognized as the official Canadian standard in a particular subject area or topic. Before a standard can become a national standard, it must be approved by SCC. Standards that include the prefix CAN as part of their reference number have been designated an NSC.
To be approved, an NSC has to meet certain requirements, including that it be:
- developed by consensus from a balanced committee of stakeholders,
- subjected to public scrutiny,
- published in both official languages,
- consistent with or incorporate existing international and pertinent foreign standards, and,
- not a barrier to trade.
NSCs may be developed in Canada or adopted, with or without changes, from international standards.
For more information see Requirements & Guidance: Approval of National Standards of Canada Designation
Canada’s national standardization network is the network of people and organizations involved in voluntary standards development, promotion and implementation in Canada.
There are hundreds of organizations accredited by SCC to look after the day-to-day work of standards development, certification of persons, calibration and proficiency testing, management systems registration, and auditor training and certification.
Other government and non-governmental bodies also take part in the national standardization network. Some of these participate in accreditation programs as SCC partners. Others work on standards-related issues such as international trade agreements.
Almost 15,000 volunteers from industry, government, non-governmental organizations and the general public are involved in developing standards. Volunteers also provide their expertise to accreditation programs and advisory committees. Even the members of SCC’s Governing Council are volunteers. The employers who support the work of these volunteers are important contributors to the national standardization network.
SCC protects the integrity of ISO and IEC standards in Canada and prevents their unauthorized reproduction. A business or organization who wants to share a standard with its employees or reproduce the standard, in whole or in part, or a student who wants to reproduce part of a standard for their thesis may request permission from SCC.
For information on reproducing or sharing ISO or IEC standards, visit Buy Standards. For any other standard, we recommend that you contact the relevant standards developer directly.
Academic Institutions
SCC provides a valuable service to eligible academic institutions in Canada by offering access to ISO and IEC standards through its Standards in Education program. Direct, easy access to ISO and IEC standards helps students gain a better understanding of the standardization process, produce higher quality academic work and be better qualified to enter the workforce.
Visit the Standards in Education program for more information.
Non Academic Institutions
Any purchased standard will need permission in order to reproduce or copy.
It is possible to make ONE printed copy of a PDF standard with purchase of a PDF standard.
Additional hard copies beyond the one hard copy one is entitled to upon purchase, permission must be received from SCC and a royalty fee paid.
If you wish to post the electronic version of the standard on a company's intranet, you will need to obtain permission from SCC and pay a royalty fee. The fee depends on a number of factors such as; the number of people who will have access to the standard, the number of addresses (offices) where the standard will be available, and which standards you wish to post
In order to receive permission to reproduce or copy a standard, contact csd@scc.ca.
For complete information on how to participate in international standardization visit: Get Involved in Standardization.
For more information, visit Canadian Standards Development: Program Overview.
For information on how to purchase standards, visit Buy Standards.
SCC’s search function can help you identify the standards you need. SCC’s databases include information on standards and standards-related documents from Canada, Britain, France, Australia, Germany, ISO, the IEC and other standards bodies around the world.
A standard may be withdrawn if it:
- is not up-to-date technically
- does not reflect current practice or research
- is not suitable for new and existing applications (products, systems or processes)
- is not compatible with current views and expectations regarding quality, safety and the environment
This status is also used if:
- the standard is withdrawn and not replaced by the author for any of the reasons mentioned above
- there has been a change in the standard designation (e.g. if CSA A1234-2000 is superseded by CSA B5678-2005)
Valid
An ORD with a status of Valid has been recognized by a Canadian regulatory authority body and has been provided to SCC for inclusion in the ORD database.
Expired
An ORD with a status of Expired has exceeded its five-year validity period. All certifications issued to this document while it was valid are still acceptable. No new certifications to this document shall be granted.
Withdrawn
An ORD with a status of Withdrawn has been rescinded by its authoring organization. No new certifications to this document shall be granted.
A standard may be withdrawn if it:
- is not technically up-to-date
- does not reflect current practice or research
- is not suitable for new and existing applications (products, systems or processes)
- is not compatible with current views and expectations regarding quality, safety and the environment
This status is also used if:
- the standard is withdrawn and not replaced by the author for any of the reasons mentioned above
- there has been a change in the standard designation (e.g. if CSA A1234-2000 is superseded by CSA B5678-2005)
Superseded
An ORD with a status of Superseded has been replaced by another document. No new certifications to this document shall be granted.
Notes:
An ORD with a status of Valid will automatically change to Expired once the expiry date has passed.
When an ORD status indicates Superseded, you will find the details on the new document in the “Superseded By” field.
Standardization is the development and application of standards. It includes:
- the work of the committees that develop standards
- the publication of standards by standards development organizations
- the recognition of standards by national standards bodies such as SCC
- the application of standards by businesses, suppliers and customers
- the verification that products or services conform to applicable standards (conformity assessment)
- the accreditation of organizations that provide conformity assessment services
- the use of standards and conformity assessment as an element in public policy as well as in international trade
For more information, visit SCC’s orientation module Introduction to Standards and the Standards Council of Canada.
In the broadest sense, a standard is anything that tells you how to do, test or identify something. For example, a recipe for spaghetti sauce is a standard. However, standards in government or business most often refer to a particular type of standard: a document developed by a committee of interested experts and published by a recognized standards body that provides independent and widely accepted guidance.
For more information, visit SCC’s orientation module Introduction to Standards and the Standards Council of Canada.
Standards are developed through consensus by participating committees of affected stakeholders that may include representatives from industry, governments, academia and the public interest. These committees are organized and managed by an organization that specializes in the development of standards. In Canada, standards development organizations are accredited by the SCC.
For more information, visit SCC’s orientation module Introduction to Standards and the Standards Council of Canada.
International standards are developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). SCC coordinates Canada's input in international standardization work.
For more information, visit SCC’s orientation module Introduction to Canadian Participation in ISO and IEC.
For more information on how a standard is developed, visit Developing Standards.
All Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) adhere to the same SCC standards development, or adoption, requirements. As part of these requirements, SDOs must include technical experts and stakeholders who will be affected by the standard in their technical committees when developing standards. As a result, any SDO can develop a standard in any area.
To search for an NSC on SCC’s website:
- use the Search function (located in the top right-hand corner on www.scc.ca)
- select the tab labelled Standards
- under “Filter by type” select “Canadian Standards”
The search will provide all NSCs by publication date. You may further refine your search using the additional filters on the right side of the page. Scroll through the list and click on a standard’s number to read its description and to find out how to purchase a copy.
SCC accredited SDOs are expected to coordinate their work to avoid duplication within the Canadian standards development environment and to promote opportunities for harmonization wherever possible.
The accreditation requirements outlined in Requirements & Guidance – Accreditation of Standards Development Organizations directly address possible duplication of standards in the system (consult Section 4, Requirement 4.3, Avoiding Duplication), and were clarified and strengthened by including statements such as:
“The SDO accreditation requirements are in line with accepted international standards best practices derived from the World Trade Organization, Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO/TBT), Annex 3 provisions, ISO/IEC Guide 59 Code of good practice for standardization, and the following Canadian principles: consensus; equal access and effective participation by concerned interests; respect for diverse interests and identification of those who should be afforded access to provide the needed balance of interests; mechanism for dispute resolution; openness and transparency; open access by interested parties to the procedures guiding the standards development process; clarity with respect to the processes; Canadian interest consideration as the basis for the development of standards by SDOs; and avoiding duplication of standards or overlap with the work of other SDOs or with the work of relevant international or regional SDOs.” (Page 4)
SCC’s role is to support the standardization priorities of government and industry in Canada. As such, we welcome comments and suggestions by industry on approaches to avoid duplication of efforts and on our role in managing subject area recognition. Visit our Contact Us page to provide comments.
Accreditation and applying standards
SCC is a non-profit Crown Corporation and fees for its accreditation programs are in place for cost-recovery purposes. Each applicant pays an application fee and an assessment fee. Once accredited, a customer pays an annual fee and is responsible for the fees of the reassessment activities carried out by SCC. Travel and accommodation costs of the assessment team are aligned with Treasury Board of Canada guidelines. These fees are presented more specifically in the Fee Structure annexes of the program-specific Accreditation Agreement which is available on request.
If you plan to manufacture or import products that you think may be classified as toxic substances, we suggest that you review the following informational sources provided by Environment Canada under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA):
- CEPA 1999—overview of the CEPA with guidance documents
An organization considering accreditation should plan enough time to study applicable requirements (standards), ensure its quality management system is fully operational and that staff has been appropriately trained.
Visit our section on applying for SCC accreditation for more details.
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), in partnership with the Communications Security Establishment (link is external) (CSE), offers accreditation for information technology (IT) security evaluation and testing laboratories. The CSE is a federal government agency that delivers information technology security solutions to the Canadian government. SCC provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories that perform testing in the following areas:
- Biometric device testing
- Common criteria product and system evaluations
- ITS product reviews
- Secure electronic commerce application evaluations
- Specialized commercial security device testing
- Vulnerability and tiger team testing
For information on Canadian labelling requirements, review the Competition Bureau’s Guide to the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations. You may also wish to contact the Competition Bureau directly.
SCC does not develop standards or verify the conformity of products or services to standards but rather accredits the organizations that do. To find a certification body, visit the appropriate accreditation program on our website.
This accreditation program provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories providing testing services that include, but are not limited to:
- Allergens analysis
- Organic and inorganic chemistry analysis
- Plant protection: bacterial, fungal, viral, viroid, and nematode, presence of disease and seeds analysis
- Qualitative and quantitative microbiological analysis
- Veterinary analysis for animal health testing
SCC accreditation demonstrates a laboratory’s competence to manage and perform activities defined by its specific program scope of accreditation. Through SCC accreditation, laboratories are able to obtain independent, third-party, credible test results for themselves and for their customers. SCC accreditation helps laboratories deliver services with confidence and attract new customers. As a signatory member to several international mutual recognition and multilateral agreements, SCC’s Accreditation Program is internationally recognized.
In principle, the vast majority of Canadian and international standards are voluntary.
In practice, the demands of the marketplace make many standards mandatory. A bolt manufacturer whose products do not fit a standard nut, for example, will probably not have many customers.
Buyers who want to assess whether their suppliers provide goods that conform to standards have a number of options. They may take supplier’s word for it. They may check the products themselves. They may also insist that the supplier ask an independent third party to verify the products conformity. These third parties often indicate conformity by putting their own label, or mark, on the product.
Government regulators make a standard mandatory by referring to it in legislation. Provincial and territorial electrical codes, for example, require electrical products to conform to Canadian electrical safety standards. Under these regulations, products cannot be sold unless they have been tested and certified by a recognized conformity assessment body.
One way of recognizing conformity assessment bodies is through accreditation. SCC is Canada’s national accreditation body for organizations that provide standards-related conformity assessment services.
For more information visit SCC’s orientation module, Accreditation: Where Standards, quality and conformity meet about the value and importance of accreditation. SCC also has a searchable directory of accredited certification bodies.
Certificates issued by a certification body typically include an identifying logo of an accreditation body on them. Using the name on the logo, you can check the accreditation body’s website for a directory of accredited certification bodies. Contact the certification body that issued the certificate to verify its validity.
Certification bodies accredited by SCC are listed in SCC’s Directory of Accredited Certification Bodies, however it does not contain information on certificates issued by the certification bodies.
SCC offers 10 accreditation programs including testing laboratories, certification of products and electrical inspections. Details about each program can be found in SCC’s Accreditation Program Overview.
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) offers accreditation to laboratories that perform the analysis of all media used in mining exploration and processing. SCC provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories conducting mineral and mineral assay analysis in support of the mining and mining exploration industries. In order to add even greater value to its accreditation program, SCC accredits both single-element and multiple-element test methods for a wide variety of metals. SCC offers accreditation in the following mineral analysis disciplines:
- sediments
- rocks
- ores
- metal products
- tailings
- water
- vegetation
Certificates are issued independently of ISO certification bodies, and there is no central database of all these certifications. If you know which certification body delivered the certification, you can contact them directly.
SCC provides formal recognition of competence for laboratories calibrating measuring instruments and reference standards for areas of metrology, including:
- Acoustics and vibration
- Dimensional
- Electrical
- Frequency and time
- Ionizing radiation
- Mechanical
- Photometric and radiometric
- Temperature
- Other
For more information For more information, please contact SCC Accreditation Services at accreditation@scc.ca. Laboratories seeking accreditation under this program should apply directly to NRC/CLAS (link is external). The NRC/CLAS contact is: Jeff Russell Leader, Assessment Services / CLAS / Measurement Science and Standards National Research Council Canada / Government of Canada Building M-36, room 1209, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6 Jeffery.Russell@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca / Tel: 613-991-4059
Information on Canadian import regulations is available from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Information on requirements that apply to imported products (such as whether they need to be certified as meeting particular standards) can be obtained from government organizations that administer these requirements. To search for the relevant mandatory requirements that apply to your product, refer to the database on the Canadian Legal Information website.
The Consumer Product Safety Directorate at Health Canada assists in the protection of Canadians by researching, assessing and collaborating in the management of the health risks and safety hazards of consumer products.
Accreditation is the formal verification of an organization's competence to carry out a specific function. SCC is Canada’s national accreditation body. It accredits testing and calibration laboratories, medical laboratories, inspection bodies, greenhouse-gas verifiers and validators, and organizations that develop standards. SCC also accredits organizations that certify persons, as well as those that certify conformity of products, processes, systems and services.
Additionally, SCC is the only monitoring authority in Canada that grants recognition to the OECD Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) program.
Because SCC accreditation is based on internationally recognized criteria, SCC accreditation provides confidence and credibility in products, systems and services both in Canada and abroad.
For more information visit SCC’s orientation module Accreditation: Where standards, conformity and quality meet.
SCC is an accreditation body. It accredits certification bodies that can certify your organization to ISO 9001, for example. All SCC-accredited certification bodies are listed on SCC’s Directory of Accredited Certification Bodies as well as testing and calibration laboratories (including those recognized under the OECD Good Laboratory Practices).
To find a product, process or service certification body with specific capabilities, please search our directory with a product category, the International Classification for Standards (ICS) code or standard.
An organization can self-proclaim certification or compliance to any standard.
While "self-certifying" or "self-declaring" compliance to a standard doesn't carry the same weight as third-party certification (e.g. SCC or CSA), organizations that do this are not actually doing anything wrong or illegal.
However, if you are concerned that a business is falsely claiming third-party certification, it is up to you to do your due diligence and verify the certification. For instance, if the organization says it is UL certified for ISO 9001, then UL would be able to verify that this is accurate.
To report such a situation, notify the owner of the logo or certification body. The certifying organization would then be responsible for ensuring the validity of the claim and for any next steps should the company be falsely claiming certification.
The Standards Council of Canada’s (SCC) Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program provides formal recognition of competence for laboratories carrying out environmental tests, and enables laboratories to better meet their obligations to regulators. Approximately 120 parameters can be accredited within the following environmental fields of testing:
- Inorganics - water and soil
- Microbiology - water
- Occupational health - air filters
- Organics - water and soil
- PCB - oil
- Toxicology - water
- Other
SCC also offers accreditation to laboratories conducting drinking water testing under the Ontario Safe Drinking Water Act. Under the terms of its agreement with the Ontario provincial government, SCC assesses the ability of laboratories to perform drinking water tests, and is solely responsible for approval of their accreditation.
Consumer Product Safety information is provided by Health Canada, if you are concerned about the safety of a consumer product or are thinking of importing consumer goods into Canada.
As Health Canada regulates areas such as consumer product safety, drug and medical devices, natural health products, cosmetics and other areas, you may also wish to review the related guidelines for each topic on the Health Canada website.
Any question or variation in a certification mark should be raised with the issuing body. Certificates issued by a certification body typically include an identifying logo of an accreditation body on them. Using the name on the logo, you can check the accreditation body’s website for a directory of accredited certification bodies. Contact the certification body that issued the certificate to verify its validity.
Certification bodies accredited by SCC are listed in SCC’s Directory of Accredited Certification Bodies, however it does not contain information on certificates issued by the certification bodies.
SCC is well-respected in Canada and around the world and consistently delivers high-quality and rigorous accreditation services.
As a member and signatory to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC), and the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), SCC can assess according to ISO standards and is subject to regular evaluation itself. Accreditation by SCC helps certification bodies deliver services with confidence.
The benefits of accreditation are many. Accreditation can help:
- Improve your product’s or system’s quality and safety
- Demonstrate your market accountability
- Bring you global recognition
- Reduce costs and increase efficiency
- Reduce your risk
- Offer you a competitive advantage
To further investigate provincial and territorial requirements related to conformance of products, you may search for provincial regulations on the Canadian Legal Information Institute website.
For products covered under the categories of building, plumbing or fire, the provincial or territorial authorities require a product certification mark.
Accreditation is the formal verification of an organization's competence to carry out a specific function. SCC is Canada’s national accreditation body. Accreditation is an independent verification that an organization has the required competency to certify others. For example, a testing laboratory that issues certificates of compliance may be accredited by SCC. Please see our video orientation module on Accreditation for more information.
Certification is the procedure by which a third party gives written assurance that a product, process, system or person conforms to specified requirements. For example, a certification body that certifies businesses to ISO 9001 may also be accredited by SCC.
This program specialty area (PSA) applies to the accreditation of laboratories conducting tests and measurements on threaded fasteners and providing services that support fastener production, such as plating, producers of material destined for fastener manufacture, and commercial laboratories offering testing services. Testing conducted in the fasteners PSA is divided into five major areas:
- Chemical analysis
- Mechanical and physical testing and inspection
- Non-destructive inspection
- Dimensional inspection
- Metallography
The Canadian national authorities responsible for food safety are the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada.
Any complaints with an accredited organization must be submitted in writing to that organization. If it is not handled to the satisfaction of the complainant, it can be raised with SCC. SCC will review the accredited organization’s handling of the complaint from a process perspective. Please note that SCC can only deal with complaints regarding the requirements (standards) to which the organization is accredited, and not in matters such as invoicing and compensation.
Contact SCC to determine if your existing accreditation can be transferred. If the accreditation body you are transferring from is a recognized signatory of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the process of transferring is that much easier.
Information on Canadian occupation health and safety (e.g. safety of machinery and personal protective equipment) can be obtained from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
You can also search for specific topics covered by federal, provincial or territorial legislation on the Canadian Legal Information Institute website.
A regulator enforces standards, codes or regulations and has legal power and governance over the regulation. An accreditation body has no such mandate or power. Accreditation is done on a voluntary basis, but accreditation can be mandated by regulators.
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) offers accreditation to laboratories that undertake forensic testing. One of the key activities forensic laboratories undertake is the testing of physical evidence often at a crime scene or the scene of an accident. In addition to testing the evidence and issuing reports, forensic scientists frequently provide testimony on the test results for judicial applications. To ensure that this evidence stands up to scrutiny in court, it is imperative that the testing methods used by the laboratory have proven and documented credibility. Accreditation provides assurance that a forensic laboratory has adhered to recognized practices and standards. Forensic accreditation is one of 10 SCC Accreditation Program Specialty Areas. SCC offers accreditation in the following forensic disciplines:
- Biology/DNA analysis
- Chemistry/Trace analysis
- Counterfeits
- Drug chemistry
- Equine drug testing
- Explosives
- Firearms and tool marks
- Questioned documents examination
- Toxicology
Energy-consuming products are regulated under Canadian Energy Efficiency Regulations, overseen by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). To consult the legislation to verify whether this regulation covers your product, visit NRCan’s Guide to Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations web page.
The sale of uncertified electrical equipment may be unlawful, depending on the type of equipment and the jurisdiction it is being sold within. The regulator for the region will have more information on what the restrictions are and how to report attempts to sell unapproved equipment. Contact the Safety Authority Branch in your province (e.g., Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario) or, if the product is a consumer product, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Act Directorate.
Canada’s National Model Codes
Under Canada's constitution, provinces and territories regulate the design and construction of new houses and buildings, and the maintenance and operation of fire safety systems in existing buildings. While the national model building, fire and plumbing codes are prepared centrally under the direction of the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, adoption and enforcement of the codes is the responsibility of the provincial and territorial authorities. For more information on the adoption and enforcement of national model codes, visit the Canadian Codes Centre website.
To search for code-related federal and provincial legislation, visit the Canadian Legal Information Institute website.
For Canadian code-related questions, we invite you to contact the relevant provincial code authorities, which can be found on the UL website under Code Authorities in Canada.
Mandatory requirements for building products are the responsibility of the Canadian provincial and territorial code authorities. Below are links to each provincial building code authorities:
Alberta Building Code
British Columbia Building and Safety Standards
Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner
New Brunswick Environment and Land Planning
Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Municipal Affairs
Northwest Territories Public Works and Services
Nova Scotia Building and Plumbing Code
Nunavut Protection Services
Ontario Building Code
Prince Edward Island Building and Development
Quebec Régie du bâtiment
Saskatchewan Building Standards and Licensing
Yukon Building Safety
For complete listing of Canadian provincial and territorial code authorities, visit the Code Authorities in Canada web page on the UL website.
The National Fire Code of Canada (NFC) is adopted as the minimum standard for the fire safe operation of buildings and facilities. The NFC is adopted by Canadian provinces and territories with or without modifications. For information on how the national model codes (building, fire and plumbing) are adopted in the various provinces and territories across Canada, visit the Canadian Codes Centre on the National Research Council Canada website.
The NFC establishes provisions to address the following three core objectives:
- safety
- health
- fire protection of buildings and facilities
For technical questions on code requirements, contact the Canadian provincial or territorial enforcing regulatory body or bodies, which can be found on the Code Authorities in Canada web page on the UL website.
Plumbing fixtures of any kind, including sinks and bathtubs, must comply with the requirements outlined in the National Plumbing Code (NPC) as adopted by provincial and territorial authorities.
Canadian provinces and territories are responsible for adopting the NPC, enforcing the mandatory requirements and confirming the acceptable certification marks for plumbing products, similar to electrical safety certification marks.
For technical questions on code requirements, we suggest contacting the Canadian provincial or territorial enforcing regulatory body or bodies, which can be found on the Code Authorities in Canada web page on the UL website.
Electrical safety falls under the responsibility of provincial and territorial authorities. Provincially recognized certification marks confirm compliance of products that have an electrical component to the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) CAN/CSA C22.1 published by the CSA Group.
Certification marks are issued by SCC-accredited product certification bodies. Any certification mark originating from an SCC-accredited US-based certification body needs a small "c" in front of the mark to indicate to the user, inspector and retailer that, even though the mark is from the United States, the assessment of the product has complied with the CEC. To obtain the listing of provincial and territorial recognized electrical safety certification marks, contact your provincial or territorial electrical safety authority, which can be found on the Code Authorities in Canada web page on the UL website.
Canadian provincial and territorial regulators are responsible for regulating and enforcing gas and propane equipment and installations. Inspectors, contractors, distributors and manufacturers will ensure that the installation of natural gas and propane equipment, and storage and handling of propane, is in conformance with the CAN/CSA B149-10 Natural gas and propane installation code.
To review a list of provincial and territorial authorities responsible for gas-operated equipment, visit Code Authorities in Canada on the UL website.
Standards Council of Canada and your business
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) supports Canadians and Canadian businesses in a number of ways, most notably by overseeing and coordinating the work of Canada's standardization network.
The SCC operates numerous programs and services intended to promote efficient and effective standardization. SCC doesn't develop standards or verify the conformity of products or services to standards, but rather, it accredits the organizations that do. SCC also approves National Standards of Canada, represents Canada in international standards forums, and serves as Canada's key source for standards information.
For more information, visit our Accreditation Services page.
SCC supports Canadians and Canadian businesses in a number of ways, most notably by overseeing and coordinating the work of Canada's standardization network. Standards can support Canadian innovation by spreading technological knowledge and increasing market acceptance of new or innovative products.
SCC can help your business get involved in international standards development as a way to assert Canadian influence in the global marketplace and embed Canadian innovation, technology, products and services into the standards setting process internationally. In doing so, SCC can also help your business access new markets, reduce cost/increase revenue, gain a competitive advantage globally and manage business risk.
For information about how standardization can help your business, visit Information for Business and Industry.
Technical queries regarding interpretation of the content of a standard are outside of SCC’s area of expertise and responsibility. These activities are typically handled by regulators, consultants or engineers. You may also wish to contact the Standards Development Organization (SDO) who published the standard.
Importing and exporting products
In Canada, information on importing and exporting can be obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency.
Information on requirements that apply to imported products (such as whether they need to be certified as meeting particular standards) can be obtained from government organizations that administer these requirements. To search for the relevant mandatory requirements that apply to your product, refer to the database on the Canadian Legal Information website.
Requirements related to Importing Wireless Equipment into Canada is provided by the Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Group of the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
In Canada, information on importing and exporting can be obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency.
Information on requirements that apply to imported products (such as whether they need to be certified as meeting particular standards) can be obtained from government organizations that administer these requirements. To search for the relevant mandatory requirements that apply to your product, refer to the database on the Canadian Legal Information website.
The Consumer Product Safety Directorate at Health Canada assists in the protection of Canadians by researching, assessing and collaborating in the management of the health risks and safety hazards of consumer products.
In Canada, information on importing and exporting can be obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Information on requirements that apply to imported products (such as whether they need to be certified as meeting particular standards) can be obtained from government organizations that administer these requirements. To search for the relevant mandatory requirements that apply to your product, refer to the database on the Canadian Legal Information website.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy. CBSA is responsible for the initial import inspection of food, agricultural inputs and agricultural products. The CFIA sets the policies and regulations for these importations and they are enforced by CBSA at Canadian entry points. As required, shipments are referred to the CFIA for follow-up action. A CFIA veterinarian inspects most importations of live animals on entry.
In Canada, information on importing and exporting can be obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency.
Export requirements are generally set by the country you are exporting to. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service may be able to help you obtain information on requirements for export markets.
If you are looking for information on exporting, Export Development Canada (EDC) is a great resource providing support for Canadian exporters.
In Canada, information on importing and exporting can be obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency.
Information on requirements that apply to imported products (such as whether they need to be certified as meeting particular standards) can be obtained from government organizations that administer these requirements. To search for the relevant mandatory requirements that apply to your product, refer to the database on the Canadian Legal Information website.
As Canada’s standardization leader, SCC provides accreditation programs for laboratories, inspection bodies, product and personnel certifiers, and management systems certification bodies. Our accredited bodies will provide testing and certification services for organizations operating in a wide variety of industry sectors.
However, SCC does not have regulatory authority in its mandate. Any mandatory standards or specifications and related conformity assessment requirements need to be reviewed with the proper federal, provincial or territorial regulatory authority.
For technical questions on code requirements, we suggest contacting the Canadian provincial or territorial enforcing regulatory body or bodies, which can be found on the Code Authorities in Canada web page on the UL website.
Accreditation Program for Management Systems CBs
Food Safety management systems provide a framework for effectively managing the safety of food supply chain, from “farm to fork.” The international standard for food safety management brings together generally recognized food safety practices and is suitable for any organization along the entire food chain, including related organizations such as manufacturers and producers of food equipment, packaging material, cleaning agents, additives and ingredients.
Recognized as an accreditation body by the Foundation for Food Safety Certification under the Food Safety System Certification 22000 scheme, SCC is able to offer accreditation to certification bodies that are interested in auditing and certifying food safety systems of food manufacturers.
The FSSC 22000 scheme, which is based on the certification requirements of ISO 22000 and BSI-PSA 220, is formally recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredits certification bodies that assess and certify food safety management systems to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard ISO 22000 Food Safety Management.
Environmentally conscious consumers increasingly demand that their wood-based products come from sustainably farmed forests and that they be manufactured in an environmentally sound way. Certification to forestry management standards by an SCC-accredited body shows corporate social responsibility—a testament that the producer operates in a sustainable way that ensures a renewable supply of raw materials.
Occupational health and safety management systems provide a framework for managing an organization’s occupational health and safety responsibilities, which enable organizations to:
- Improve health and safety performance
- Reduce or prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredits certification bodies that assess and certify occupational health and safety management systems to the international standard ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety, as well as OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Standard.
An anti-bribery management system can help organizations prevent, detect and address bribery. It helps to reduce the risk of bribery occurring and can demonstrate to clients and stakeholders that an organization has put in place internationally recognized good-practice anti-bribery controls.
SCC accredits organizations that certify the management systems of medical device manufacturers. SCC is no longer accepting applicants into the (Canadian Medical Devices Conformity Assessment System (CMDCAS) program. For more information, please contact the Health Canada, Therapeutic Products Directorate.
A quality management system defines and establishes an organization’s quality policy, objectives and procedures. Quality management system standards do not provide specific quality indicators or describe ways of achieving them, since these will be different in every situation. Instead, they provide generic frameworks and general principles that can be applied to any organization, of any size, in any industry.
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredits certification bodies that assess and certify quality management systems to the international standard ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
View expected Outcomes for Accredited Certification to ISO 9001
The Standards Council of Canada’s (SCC’s) Energy Management Systems Accreditation Program assesses the competence of bodies that intend to certify organizations in their implementation of the international standard, ISO 50001 – Energy Management Systems.
By establishing energy management systems and processes in accordance with ISO 50001, organizations can improve their overall energy performance, including energy efficiency, use and consumption. These improvements can lead to significant energy cost savings, as well as reduce an organization’s greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint), and other adverse environmental impacts.
SCC’s Energy Management Systems Accreditation Program accredits certification bodies that certify energy management systems in the following sectors:
• Commercial buildings
• Light and medium industry
• Heavy industrial
• Transportation
• Building complex energy use
• Energy providers
An environmental management system verifies the impact of an organization’s activities on the environment. Such systems help organizations to establish environmental goals and targets, and to evaluate how well they are being achieved.
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredits certification bodies that assess and certify environmental management systems to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems standard.
View expected outcomes for accredited certification to ISO 14001
Accreditation Program for Laboratory Testing
This program specialty area (PSA) applies to the accreditation of laboratories conducting tests and measurements on threaded fasteners and providing services that support fastener production, such as plating, producers of material destined for fastener manufacture, and commercial laboratories offering testing services.
Testing conducted in the fasteners PSA is divided into five major areas:
- Chemical analysis
- Mechanical and physical testing and inspection
- Non-destructive inspection
- Dimensional inspection
- Metallography
Forensic accreditation is one of 10 SCC Accreditation Program Specialty Areas. SCC offers accreditation in the following forensic disciplines:
- Biology/DNA analysis
- Chemistry/Trace analysis
- Counterfeits
- Drug chemistry
- Equine drug testing
- Explosives
- Firearms and tool marks
- Questioned documents examination
- Toxicology
SCC offers accreditation for cannabis testing labs in Canada and beyond. The applicable standard is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. During the accreditation process, we can assess competence to perform multiple tests important to the cannabis industry, including but not limited to:
- Quantification of multiple types of cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, CBN, etc.
- Pesticide residue screening
- Analysis of loss due to drying
- Identification of male and female cannabis plants
- Microbial analysis of cannabis samples
Accredited laboratories typically operate more efficiently and produce more accurate test results. Accreditation also sends an important signal to customers that testing is based on the latest, most accurate, validated methods.
SCC provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories that perform testing in the following areas:
- Biometric device testing
- Common criteria product and system evaluations
- ITS product reviews
- Secure electronic commerce application evaluations
- Specialized commercial security device testing
- Vulnerability and tiger team testing
This accreditation program provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories providing testing services that include, but are not limited to:
- Allergens analysis
- Organic and inorganic chemistry analysis
- Plant protection: bacterial, fungal, viral, viroid, and nematode, presence of disease and seeds analysis
- Qualitative and quantitative microbiological analysis
- Veterinary analysis for animal health testing
SCC provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories conducting mineral and mineral assay analysis in support of the mining and mining exploration industries.
In order to add even greater value to its accreditation program, SCC accredits both single-element and multiple-element test methods for a wide variety of metals.
SCC offers accreditation in the following mineral analysis disciplines:
- sediments
- rocks
- ores
- metal products
- tailings
- water
- vegetation
SCC provides formal recognition of competence for laboratories calibrating measuring instruments and reference standards for areas of metrology, including:
- Acoustics and vibration
- Dimensional
- Electrical
- Frequency and time
- Ionizing radiation
- Mechanical
- Photometric and radiometric
- Temperature
- Other
This accreditation program applies to the accreditation of laboratories that develop test methods, validate test methods and/or evaluate test kits, and/or conduct non-routine testing in one or more testing areas.
The Standards Council of Canada’s (SCC) Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program provides formal recognition of competence for laboratories carrying out environmental tests, and enables laboratories to better meet their obligations to regulators.
Approximately 120 parameters can be accredited within the following environmental fields of testing:
- Inorganics - water and soil
- Microbiology - water
- Occupational health - air filters
- Organics - water and soil
- PCB - oil
- Toxicology - water
- Other
SCC also offers accreditation to laboratories conducting drinking water testing under the Ontario Safe Drinking Water Act. Under the terms of its agreement with the Ontario provincial government, SCC assesses the ability of laboratories to perform drinking water tests, and is solely responsible for approval of their accreditation.